Delaware Boy Makes Hall of Fame

Saturday, September 25th, 2010 is now another treasured day of mine. I was a guest at the 11th Honors Banquet of the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame to see the induction of Theodore C Freeman, late Lewes 'boy' made good in the world of flying. He was also one of the very first Air Force Astronauts. He died in the line of duty, 31 October 1964 at Ellington Air Force Base, Houston, Texas. His daughter, Faith Huntington and a Freeman relative, Bruce Freeman, received his honors.

The program was exceptional, a reception, with music of The Delaware Army National Guard, Stardust Knights, start jumped the event, allowed many friends to get together to remember their past and to find some new friends to remember from now on. The banquet program was flawless, with the Piped Processional of VIP's, the Posting of The Colors by a Color Guard of a local High School AFROTC Group, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and Invocation.

Delaware Air National Guard, Ret. Col., James Kohler was Master of Ceremonies.

You can say the meal was DANG good.

You can find more about this ceremony and the inductee's at http://www.dahf.org/. Go there, it is real easy and most interesting.

One of the airmen's achievements of the past was at story of 'Delaplane', made of spruce pine and 'wires', which flew at Wawaset Park in Wilmington in 1910, 100 years ago.

A very impressive yougn man, not yet 20 years of age, George T. Antonjou was given the Youth Achievement Award of the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame. His intentions are to go far in aviation and a lot of the attendees feel he will do just that.

The Class of 2010 are;
Donald M. Clark who was present to receive his award. Donald was a WWII C-47 Pilot and after the return home was a crop duster in his own business. He is now a docent at the Dover Air Force Museum. Stop by a visit him some time. He will have a story to tell that you will enjoy.

Edward Czarnecki, WWII Air Force Ace, deceased. A family friend was his ceremony 'Wing Man' and received the award.
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Ted Freeman, yes, our Lewes Boy Made Good, The Astronaut, deceased in the line of duty, had almost three dinner tables of well wishers there. Several of his deceased widows family from New England attended. His award was received by his daughter, Faith, who I believe still lives in Texas. A Freeman relation, Bruce Freeman of Melfa, Virginia, was at Faith's side. A group from Lewes to attend were Hazel Brittingham, Charles Henry Howard, Sussie Hudson, myself, who were the guest of Joseph Rowland Hudson.

Stan Lawruk, received his own award. He was a WWII B-17 Flight Engineer, was a POW in Germany, lives in New Castle county, Delaware.

Daniel Rusk, Jr, 80 some year of age, also received his award, was a Navy Pilot and made more than one hundred landings on the USS Hornet, came home to be a salesman for several aircraft manufacturers.


Alfred Walker, Jr., WWII, B-17, B-24, B-29 pilot with 32 Combat Missions over Japan, total of 540 Combat hours. He is deceased and I think his sister received his award.

After a few short remarks from the President of the DAHF, the Colors were Retired by a well drilled AFROTC Cadet Color Guard.

As I said at the beginning, this was a day to remember.